TOPIC: Downtown Area

I applaud the beautification of the square. The streets already completed look very nice and inviting. I have even driven around the square and survived despite my original concern.

I wonder though about the possible lack of zoning laws or enforcement of same. Main Street, between the Interstate feeder road and the square, is replete with abandoned cars and nasty storefronts. Visitors often look for a town's Main Street because they know there will be stores to browse. This section of SS will dsappoint them.

Thoughts?

"Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else." - Frederic Bastiat (19th century French economist)

I agree with your thoughts. I too, am surprised at the ease of getting around the new 2 way traffic we were all so afraid of. I also agree that it would be nice if the drive from the interstate to the downtown area was more inviting, but in this economy I doubt that many have the funds to improve their property.

Guilt is concerned with the past. Worry is concerned about the future. Contentment enjoys the present.

jbourne wrote:
But it is sad that so many store owners (or building owners) have done so little to fix up their storefronts.

The city needs to get proactive in forcing building owners to take action.[/quote]

Ah, now it begins.........
So now you want the city to pass new ordinances to force either store or building owners to renovate their property?
And if they don't? What then? Fines? Liens? Closure? In the current economy, some people are already hanging on by their fingernails. Frankly, I agree, It would be nice to have the entire Main Street beaming with new buildings, businesses, street lights, sidewalks and such. But to force building owners or (worse yet) store owners and taxpayers to either do it or suffer is wrong - wrong - wrong.
"Socialism is fine...until you run out of other peoples money".

I was in Marshall (TX) for a few days visiting my son and his wife. They took me downtown to show me the newest addition to their downtown area, new brick men and women's bathrooms.
You laugh, but people actually go downtown to shop more and stay longer because of this 'addition'. Events are better attended as well.
Just something to think about...

Guilt is concerned with the past. Worry is concerned about the future. Contentment enjoys the present.

You guys are right ... "force" is a wrong word to use. However, incentives is maybe a better term. Make it more attractive for some of these owners to spend money on their buildings. By the way, most of the buildings aren't owned by the people who work out of them. Very few are. Put some incentives out there for building owners to fix up there buildings -- tax breaks on the renovations would work nicely. My guess is that with the reinvestment zone stuff, the taxes on these buildings are going to go up, renovated or not. An incentive program may help push the needle.

I was in Marshall (TX) for a few days visiting my son and his wife. They took me downtown to show me the newest addition to their downtown area, new brick men and women's bathrooms.
You laugh, but people actually go downtown to shop more and stay longer because of this 'addition'. Events are better attended as well.
Just something to think about...

Excellent idea, LC. However, we may be called socialists! We'd have to make them pay toilets to appease those folks.

"Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else." - Frederic Bastiat (19th century French economist)

If you go look at the Tax Rolls I am sure that you will see that several people are just buying up property in the Downtown Area just to have it. They are not doing anything with the property. It is just setting there. Maybe the Citizens of Sulphur Springs can have a "Paint The Town" Day. We could all volunteer our selves to just "Paint" the outsides of the Buildings just to make it look better. Then, maybe the owners would get excited and do something to the insides or their buildings. Just a thought.

If you go look at the Tax Rolls I am sure that you will see that several people are just buying up property in the Downtown Area just to have it. They are not doing anything with the property. It is just setting there. Maybe the Citizens of Sulphur Springs can have a "Paint The Town" Day. We could all volunteer our selves to just "Paint" the outsides of the Buildings just to make it look better. Then, maybe the owners would get excited and do something to the insides or their buildings. Just a thought.

Could we buy the paint and supplies for this project too? That would REALLY make the owners happy.